Fires in Space and Test-Tube Planets: Shuttle Science Mission Results

Fires in Space and Test-Tube Planets: Shuttle Science Mission
Results

January 13, 1997

The results of fires in space, a planet in a test tube, and other materials
studies aboard two Space Shuttle missions will be presented at the National
Academy of Sciences on February 10 - 11 in Washington, D.C.

This "L+1 briefing" - given about a year after a science mission
ends - normally is given to NASA managers and to other scientists involved
in the mission. Presentation to the greater public at the Academy indicates
the growing importance of microgravity materials sciences. (At
right, USMP-3 payload is readied for flight inside the Shuttle payload bay.)

USML-2
and the USMP-3
covered several basic areas of microgravity materials sciences, including:

Fluid Physics experiments explored the behavior of
fluids and their responses to different forces.

Combustion Science experiments improved understanding
of the basic combustion process and how that process is affected by gravity's
effects.

Materials Science experiments increased the understanding
of relationships between the structure, properties, and processing of materials.

Biotechnology experiments grew protein crystals of
sufficient size and perfection to determine their structure and formation,
and to investigate the benefits of microgravity for growing cells and tissues.

These investigations brought together government, academia, and industry
researchers. USMP-3 comprised several automated experiment systems carried
on a support structure in the Space Shuttle payload bay. USML-2 was conducted
aboard a Spacelab module where a team of four scientists, including Dr.
Fred Leslie of NASA-Marshall, conducted experiments such as the Geophysical
Fluid Flow Cell which simulated the atmosphere of Jupiter and of stars.

In particular, USML-2 demonstrated that interactive science experiments
between the scientists on the ground and in orbit not only is possible but
highly productive. The crew performed experiments around the clock in a
perfect example of interactive science in a unique laboratory environment.